Posted 17 December 2013

Zen Pinball 2 launches on PS4 tomorrow

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Today is a historical day for pinball, the game that has been able to evolve and move forward with every new generation of technology. Zen Pinball 2 will be available on the brand new PlayStation 4 tomorrow afternoon when PlayStation Store updates!

There are a few details that we really need you all to pay close attention to so you have a smooth transition from PS3 to PS4. As you may have read in the announcement post, if you bought the tables coming to PS4 in Zen Pinball 2 on PS3 or PS Vita, you can import those to Zen Pinball 2 on PS4 at no charge. Here are more details on how that works:

The tables can only import from Zen Pinball 2 > Zen Pinball 2. You cannot import from Marvel Pinball or Star Wars Pinball on PS3 > Zen Pinball 2 on PS4. You CAN import from Marvel or Star Wars Pinball on PS3 > Zen Pinball 2 on PS3 and then > PS4.

There is no going backwards from PS4 > PS3. If you want to play the tables on PS3 in the future, we suggest you buy them on PS3 first and then import to PS4.

For those of you who downloaded any of the applicable tables via PS+, you can import to PS4 just the same. However, if your PS+ account expires, you will lose access to the content.

The actual import process is pretty easy, but here is a step by step walkthrough that you can reference if you encounter any issues:

Press the square button (Import Tables) on the collection screen to start the import process

Please wait while the game is searching for tables available for import

If there are tables available to import, the store will offer the next batch of content it has found. Press the x button (Enter) on each offered content’s download icon to add them to downloads, then press the circle button (Back) to return to the collection screen, and if there are still tables to import, the store will offer them in the next batch. Repeat this process until all content is added to the download queue.

Alternatively, if you want to import just a specific table, you can go to the table’s menu, wait a few seconds while the game checks for availability and press the “Download and play!” button when it appears. As the store comes up, press the x button (Enter) on each offered content’s download icon to add them to downloads, and press the circle button (Back) to return to the game.

Wait until all downloads finish (you can check their progress in the PS4 user interface under Notifications/Downloads), and there you go! You can play your imported tables straight away!

If you find the process is not working for you, we have posted a comprehensive FAQ in our forums and are standing by to answer your questions.

Lastly, don’t forget that the new Doctor Strange table releases tomorrow on PS3, PS4 and Vita for €2.99! See you on the leaderboards!

@ownjoouk, he wasn’t being rude, we’ve been asking for some sale since forever. Aside from the discount he mentioned, the last sale we had was exactly 2 years ago, Dec 2011. Just two tables were discounted then, it’s not unreasonable to ask for a sale after all this time have passed.

It’s a shame that you can’t import all the tables that you have there are a few on PS3 that i cant import over to the PS4 version, but at least my favourite ones are part of the ones that can be imported so i’m at least 95% happy and if they can eventually import over the rest then that will be great, cant wait to see what new stuff they have coming, A gen one Transformers Table would be awesome.. nope this isn’t a hint.. no really no hint… ok it’s a hint.

Zen Pinball 2 is a video-game, Pinball Arcade is a simulation, very different costs.

The PS3 was not powerful enough to do this justice so they are adding a lot more bells and whistled to the PS4 version to try to better simulate the look and feel of the real tables, which costs money.

Pinball Arcade is likely more complicated licensing. They pay for permission to digitise and distribute simulations of real tables, including the original ROM code, that may mean each time they are moved to another platform they have to pay again. That is unlikely to work the same as Zen where the game code belongs to them and the engine needs little change from platform to platform. There are still licensing issues but its unlikely to be as complicated.

Zen Pinball 2 doesn’t really NEED much improvement, it was perfect as it was because it wasn’t trying to simulate real life pinball tables, so its cheaper to port.

I own all 6 star wars tables but both ZP2 on PS3 and PS4 are only finding the original tables and not balance of the force. When I play star wars pinball stand alone, all 6 tables are present. I notice two entries for balance on the PS3 store. One I own, which isn’t a demo or trial or unlock. The other I don’t, which is what it wants me to buy. Help would be appreciated, OP. Thx.

I was really happy to here this was coming to ps4 as i already have it on ps3/ps vita but was a bit more than dissappointed that it was not really easy for you to import your previously bourght tables as it just wouldnt port them in, also the amount of tables you can port over is very limited which i think most will agree that we who have purchased tables on previous consoles where lead to belive these would be available also where are the original 4 tables from Zen pinball as these are part of Zen pinball 2 on other systems ps3/ps vita.

Ugh I wish I had come here first. I downloaded it on PS4 and it showed the new Star Wars tables as available for ppurchase. I had a feeling I’d bought them before but figured if it showed it for sale then obviously I hadn’t. Now I’m $20 out of pocket. Next I bought the rest of the tables I didn’t have yet. Great until I find out I can’t import tables purchased on PS4 to my other systems.